Who to start · 2025-26
Evgeni Malkin vs Nick Suzuki
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Nick Suzuki projects to 2.43 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Evgeni Malkin's 2.12.
Malkin had 61 points in 56 games; Suzuki had 101 in 82 games.
This week Malkin has 1 game left; Suzuki has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project Suzuki for 1.7 ESPN points to Malkin's 1.6.
Nick Suzuki has the better number in 29 of the 36 stats both are ranked on.
Malkin's biggest edges: Hardest shot 93.1, Offensive-zone start % 76.9%, Forecheck xG /60 0.37.
Suzuki's biggest edges: Top skating speed 23.6, 20+ mph bursts 237, Blocked shots 62.
Head to head on the dot, Suzuki leads Malkin 14–12.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 1 G, 0 A, 1 PPP, 2 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 2 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Evgeni Malkin
2.12
fantasy points per game
Nick Suzuki
2.43
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Nick Suzuki has the edge.
| Points per game from | Malkin | Suzuki |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.76 | 0.66 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.70 | 0.82 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.22 | 0.25 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.26 | 0.22 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.04 | 0.08 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.14 | 0.39 |
Per-game rates from the selected sample; blended mixes last season with this season, weighting this season more as games are played. Categories are scored as z-scores against qualified players at the same position. Your custom weights are saved in this browser only.
Head-to-head: Malkin vs Suzuki
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2019-20 to 2024-25: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Malkin 5G 8A, 29 SOG · Suzuki 3G 8A, 26 SOG
Malkin's offensive zone 5–5 · neutral 2–7 · Malkin's defensive zone 5–2 (2019-20 to 2024-25)
Malkin blocked 0 of Suzuki's shots; Suzuki blocked 1 of Malkin's.
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Malkin | Suzuki |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-12-12 | PIT 9–2 MTL | 0G 0A 1S | 1G 0A 2S |
| 2024-11-02 | PIT 3–1 MTL | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2024-10-14 | PIT 6–3 MTL | 1G 2A 1S | 0G 2A 1S |
| 2024-02-22 | PIT 4–1 MTL | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2024-01-27 | PIT 3–2 MTL | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2023-12-13 | PIT 4–3 MTL | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2023-03-14 | PIT 4–6 MTL | 1G 1A 3S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2022-11-12 | PIT 4–5 MTL | 1G 0A 2S | 1G 1A 4S |
| 2022-10-17 | PIT 2–3 MTL | 2G 0A 6S | 1G 1A 8S |
| 2020-02-14 | PIT 4–1 MTL | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2020-01-04 | PIT 3–2 MTL | 0G 1A 5S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2019-12-10 | PIT 1–4 MTL | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 1S |
Every stat, side by side
Season values; bars are percentiles at each player's position (longer is better). Click a stat for its explainer.
Fantasy box score
Possession & shot quality (5-on-5 on-ice)
Transition, turnovers & faceoffs
Usage
Special teams & discipline
This week's schedule
Sep 28 to Oct 4. More games usually wins a weekly start/sit. Chips show how many fantasy points the opponent allows to the player's position (soft or tough), the Schedule Edge from rest and travel, and the likely opposing goalie with his save percentage. Projections use ESPN default points for the games left.
Evgeni Malkin
2games (1 left)
1.6proj. ESPN pts
- Wed, Sep 30 @ PHIOpp allows 7th-most FP to CLikely vs Dan Vladar (.906)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs MTL1.6 ptsOpp allows 14th-most FP to CLikely vs Jakub Dobes (.901)
Nick Suzuki
2games (1 left)
1.7proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 @ TOROpp allows 7th-fewest FP to CLikely vs Sergei Bobrovsky (.877)
- Sat, Oct 3 @ PIT1.7 ptsOpp allows the fewest FP to CLikely vs Arturs Silovs (.888)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Evgeni Malkin or Nick Suzuki in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Nick Suzuki projects to 2.43 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Evgeni Malkin's 2.12. Malkin had 61 points in 56 games; Suzuki had 101 in 82 games. Check this week's games and your league's scoring in the fantasy panel above, since more games usually decide a weekly start.
- Who is better, Evgeni Malkin or Nick Suzuki?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Nick Suzuki leads in 29 of 36 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Malkin and Suzuki done against each other?
- In 12 games against each other in our data, Malkin's team went 8–4. Malkin had 13 points (5 goals) and Suzuki had 11 (3 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Malkin or Suzuki?
- Against each other, Malkin has won 12 and Suzuki 14 of their 26 head-to-head draws.
2025-26 regular season from NHL play-by-play, shift charts and NHL EDGE, processed by Edgehalla. Head-to-head covers every loaded season (play-by-play from 2019-20; on-ice matchups from 2025-26).Compare other players →